Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Richard Burges

Full Name: Richard Fenner Burges
Birth date: January 7, 1873
Death date: January 13, 1945

Terms of Service

House, 34th Legislature
1/12/1915 - 1/9/1917
Democrat
House, 33rd Legislature
1/14/1913 - 1/12/1915
Democrat

Biographical Notes and Resources

Resolutions and Journal entries

49th Legislature, R.S., HSR 27, 1/16/1945, p. 62. Resolutions - Memorial .
49th Legislature, R.S., SR 7, 1/15/1945, p. 52. Resolutions - Memorial .
"Early in 1917 at the outbreak of World War I, he raised a company of volunteers in El Paso and surrounding territory, and was elected captain of his company, which was inducted into the service and was sent overseas at an early date, and engaged actively and effectively in the fiercest fighting in France. His battalion was noted for its valor and fighting spirit. Major Burges was promoted and came out of World War as a major." 49th Legislature, R.S., HSR 27, 1/16/1945, p. 62. Resolutions - Memorial .

Photographs

Photograph. Richard F. Burges, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Richard F. Burges, State Preservation Board

Other Resources

Biographical sketch and photo, "Richard Fenner Burges: Renaissance Man," Vol. 24, 2005. Borderlands .
National Guard, Major, World War I. "When America joined World War I, Richard Burges answered the call of duty. In 1917, Burges organized a National Guard Cavalry Unit and combined these men with that of Company A, 141st Infantry of the famous 36th Division, training at Camp Bowie, Texas. Under command of Captain Richard Burges, the unit left New York on July 26, 1918, and landed in France on August 6, 1918. Burges was promoted to major on the battlefield, on October 8, 1918, during the battle of Medeah Farm in which he demonstrated heroism and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. He also recommended that his first sergeant, Sam Dreben, receive the Distinguished Service Cross, after the two made a dash into enemy territory and captured six machine guns and killed 21 German soldiers. Burges never forgot his men, the living or the dead, and honored survivors in 1934 at a dinner in his own home. The war hero, known as Major Burges throughout the rest of his life, returned to his home on 603 West Yandell Drive to spend time with his daughter, Jane, and practice law with his brother, Alfred. When Alfred died in 1924, Richard was on his own until 1938 when he joined his brother William’s law firm." Borderlands .
Occupation and religious affiliation, 34th Legislature. "Occupations of Members of Legislative House," 3/14/1915, p. 4. Galveston Daily News .
BURGES, RICHARD FENNER (1873-1945). Relatives: William Henry Burges, Sr. - father; Richard Fenner Burges - son. Handbook of Texas Online .
United States Army, Texas National Guard, World War I. "In June 1917 Burges organized Company B, Texas National Guard, which was incorporated into the Thirty-sixth Infantry Division as Company A, 141st Infantry. He commanded his battalion in the battle of the Argonne and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for distinguished service." Handbook of Texas Online .
Data on U.S. Army Divisions during World War I, 36th Division (Texas and Oklahoma National Guard). RootsWeb.com Internet genealogical service .
Memorial, March 1945, p. 156. Texas Bar Journal .
Biographical note, p. 216. The Legal Heritage of El Paso 1963.